Mohegan Sun plans new shopping plaza

Mohegan Sun is planning to build a new shopping plaza of between 10 and 30 stores, Mohegan Tribal Nation Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum said Friday.

JAMES MOSHER

Mohegan Sun is planning to build a new shopping plaza of between 10 and 30 stores, Mohegan Tribal Nation Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum said Friday.

Speaking during the State of Montville breakfast at Montville Town Hall, Bozsum said the tribe and its casino are close to signing a partnership agreement for the building of the new plaza. He declined to name the venture partner, saying he would do so after an agreement has been signed.

Bozsum described the partner as having several offices in Connecticut.

An announcement of a signing is expected in the next 30 days, the chairman said.

The plaza will be located near the casino’s Winter Entrance, the chairman said. That entrance was Mohegan Sun’s original customer front entrance when it opened in 1996.

“It will be a nice boost for everything here in Montville,” Bozsum said.

The plaza will mean an added $100,000 a year in tax money that the tribe pays to the Montville town government, Bozsum said. The tribe currently pays the town about $1 million per year in taxes in addition to a $500,000 contribution it makes toward the town’s infrastructure spending, he said.

Montville Ron McDaniel, who also spoke at the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut-organized breakfast, said he was very pleased to hear Bozsum’s announcement.

“God knows we could always use more tax money,” the mayor said.

The new plaza will bring an upscale element to Montville shopping, said Pamela Allen Kinder, who is chairwoman of the chamber’s Montville chapter.

“I’m thrilled,” she said. “I love to shop. This is something that’s really going to add to the integrity of our town.”

The plaza is a key part of Mohegan Sun’s drive to add amenities to make it stand out from gambling-only casinos in nearby states, chamber President and CEO Tony Sheridan said.

“They’re looking to diversify,” he said. “It’s a smart move. They’ve done a great job here in Eastern Connecticut, and they will continue to do so.”

Rival Foxwoods Resort Casino has begun creating a new 312,000-square-foot shopping plaza on its Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation-owned property. The plaza, known as The Premier Outlet Shoppes at Foxwoods, was announced last year with an opening date projected for some time in 2013. The plaza will contain 85 stores and connect the MGM Grand Hotel with the Grand Pequot Hotel. Foxwoods and its tribe are working with Gordon Group Holdings LLC and Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. on the project.

McDaniel brought the breakfast audience up to date on several business openings occurring in Montville, including a second McDonald’s restaurant on Route 32 currently under construction. The new McDonald’s will be across the highway from the Super Stop & Shop plaza and is scheduled to open this fall, the mayor said.